F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Fernando Alonso pips Max Verstappen to keep Aston Martin on top in final practice
Th♌e 41-year-old Spaniard was just 0.005s quicker than reigning world champion Verstappen at the end of the low-fuel short runs in FP3 to ⛦tease the prospect of a thrilling qualifying later on Saturday.
Verstappen, who did not seem entirely haไppy with his RB19 car, briefly went fastest with a fairly scrappy lap, before Alonso usurped him as Aston Martin continued their impressive start to the weekend.
Alonso had downplayed his chanꦑces of taking a first pole positi✨on in over 10 years after Friday practice.
Sergio Perezಌ was third-fastest and just 0.105s off the pace in the other Re💖d Bull.
There was🌸 a more encouraging showing from Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton ending up fourth and only two-tenths adrift, ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and teammate G🐭eorge Russell.
Lance Stroll, nursing his injured wrist, was nearly six tenths slower than his Aston Marti🧜n teammat⛎e in seventh.
Carlos Sainz, Oscar Piastri and Pierre Gasly completed th❀e rest of the top-10 order for Ferrari, McLaren and Alpine respectively.
Qualifying for the Bahrain season-opener gets𝕴 und🤡erway at 3pm UK time.
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